Air charger assembly for pressure tanks



April 14, 1959 F. M. NASH AIR CHARGER ASSEMBLY FOR PRESSURE TANKS Filed July 6, 1954 v 5 R. Y m w m H R V M mv W. N 8 W T M f 4 v 8 m M m F M Mm R -EET n hlfi United States Patent Office 2,881,782 Patented Apr, 14, 1959 AIR CHARGER ASSEMBLY FOR PRESSURE TANKS 'Floyd M. Nash, Kensington, Califi, assignor to Jacuzzi Bros., Incorporated, a corporation of California Application July 6, 1954, Serial No. 441,331

8 Claims. (Cl. 137-211) ifiled May 25, 1953, now Patent No. 2,756,762 issued July 31, 1956.

Among the objects of my invention are (1) To provide a novel and improved air charger assembly for a pressure tank in a water system or the like;

(2) To provide a novel and improved air charger assembly which will prevent loss of air cushion from a pressure tank should conditions be such as would ordinarily cause the water level in such tank to drop to an opening in such tank, such as a bung or discharge opening;

(3) To provide a novel and improved air charger assembly for a pressure tank in a water system or the .like, which functions independently of the suction line pressures and, therefore, is applicable to both deep as well as shallow well installations;

(4) To provide a novel and improved air charger assembly for a pressure tank which minimizes the requirementsof fittings or mountings on the tank wall; A

(5) To provide a novel and improved air charger assembly for a pressure tank whereby to obtain and maintain an optimum relationship of air to water in such tan (6) To provide a novel and improved air charger assembly for a pressure tank, which will determine air intake to such tank as afunction of water conditions in the tank;

(7) To provide a novel and improved air charger assembly for a pressure tank, which structurally is of simple design and may be ruggedly constructed.

Additional objects'of my invention will "be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a fragmentary view in section of the pertinent portion of a pressure system embodying the present invention, and depicting the air charger assembly in one condition of operation;

Figure 2 is a view in section through the air charger assembly, depicting it in another condition of operation;

Figure 3 is a view in section taken in the planes 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view in section taken in the plane 44 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, I have shown the same in conjunction with that portion only of a pressure system in which "the air charger assembly of the present invention would normally be incorporated.

' The particular pressure system selected, for illustrative purposes only, involves a pressure tank 1, a discharge pipe connection 3 leading from the pump unit to the tank, which pipe connection has been split into two sections 5 and 7 to incorporate therein a T-connection 9, to which is connected, the main discharge line 11 to service.

In this particular system, service will be supplied either from the tank or directly from the pump unit, or from both simultaneously, depending on pressure conditions in the tank and demands of service. Accordingly, while the flow from the pump unit will always be in one direction, the flow within that section of the discharge line between the service connection and the tank, may be in either direction depending upon conditions.

As is well known, in pressure systems, water is stored in a pressure tank under pressure of an air cushion, the pressure and volume of which must be maintained within predetermined limits to realize a satisfactory operating system. These conditions are normally controlled by a pressure switch and an air charger working in harmony with one another, the pressure switch determining operating periods of the pump unit to maintain pressure in the tank, while the air charger, during such operating periods, normally takes air into the tank to replenish that which may have been absorbed in the water and carried out of the tank when water is discharged therefrom.

Should the service drain on a system exceed that of the ability of the pump unit to supply, or the capacity of .the well to produce, it will become apparent that the system cannot, under those conditions, maintain adequate supply of water under pressure in the tank, whereupon the level of the water in the tank will drop until it exposes anopen connection in the tank and the air in the tank will escape, since the same, in all likelihood, will be above atmospheric pressure.

The air charger assembly 13 of the present invention, which not only supplies the air cushion requirements in the tank, but also precludes loss of such air cushion under the conditions noted, involves a housing 15 which may be included in that section 7 of the discharge line from the pump unit, located between the serviceline and the tank.

The housing is vopen at both ends and provides a passage therethrough for the full flow of liquid either to or from the tank. The one end 17 of the housing utilized for mounting the device in the bung opening of the pressure tank is accordingly threaded for this purpose. The other end 19 permits coupling of the housing to the T-connection, this latter end also being threaded for such purpose.

Adjacent the roof of the housing, along an intermediate portion thereof, is a longitudinal passage in which is disposed an aspirator 21 which at its maximum point of constriction, communicates with the atmosphere through an air passage 23 through the wall of the housing and an external recessed boss 25 to which is threadedly secured a valve 27 preferably of the Shrader valve type.

.Within the housing, there is provided valve means which is adapted in its closed position to block the remainder of the flow path through the housing, such valve means including a first valve seat 29 bounding such flow path to the exclusion of the aspirator, a valve 31 disposed between said valve seat and the other end of the housing, and adapted to seat upon such valve seat to block the flow path through the housing, except for that portion through the aspirator.

Integral with and extending from the valve'in the direction of the tank mounting end of the housing, is a valve guide 33 which will function to facilitate the seating of the valve against the aforementioned valve seat.

Included also within the housing, there is provided valve means to function, in its closed condition, to block the entire flow path through the housing. Such valve means includes the aforementioned valve 31 and a second yalve seat 35, this valve seat bounding the other end of the housing interiorly' thereof and in alignment with the valve. "To facilitate the seating of the valve against the latter valve seat, the valve is also provided with a second guide 37 integral with and extending in the direction of said other end of the housing.

i The valve thus is adapted to seat against either of the aforementioned valve seats, yet is adapted to occupy an intermediate position where it represents the open condition of both valve means. The direction in which the valve seats, will depend upon the differential pressure to which it may be exposed when it is free to move in either of such directions.

' Its freedom off movement, however, is controlled by a latching means 39 which functions in response to liquid level conditions in the pressure tank to' which the air charger assembly is coupled. Such latching means is designed to restrain the valve from movement in either direction from its open position, so long as the liquid level in'the tank occupies an elevation within an intermediate range levels representative of normal operation, but functions to unlatch and permit freedom of movement of the valve under liquid pressure toward either the first valve seat or the second valve seat, when the level in such tank is respectively above or below such intermediate range of levels. i

Such latching means includes a stop, preferably in the form'of a yoke 41 extending'upwardly from the floor of the housing, and a second stop, in the form of a similar yoke 43 extending downwardly from the roof of the housing inhne with the first yoke but at a location between such first yoke and the tank mounting end of the housing. 'A'val've's'tem 45 pivotally secured to the valve, extends toward "the tank mounting end of the housing in the median plane of the yokes. This valve stem is provided with a laterally extending latch pin 47 at a point intermediate the -yokes when'the valve occupies its open position intermediate both valve seats. The valve stem when exposed to gravitational force only, is adapted to drop suificiently into the first yoke, to permit the latch pin to clear'the lower end of the second yoke, thus freeing the valve for movement toward the first valve seat.

To free the valve formovement toward the second valve seat, whereit can block the entire'fiow passage through the housing, a float arm 49 is hingedly secured to the tankmounting end of the housing, carrying at its freee'nd afioat51, and at its hinged end, a lift lever 53 which extends'beneath the valve stern and is adapted to lift the amewnen the float drops with drop in" liquid levelwithin the pressure tank. Thus when the'float drops to 'alevel below the intermediate range of levels referred to previously, the lifting lever is designed to lift the valve stem suflicien'tlyto cause the latch pin to clear the first yoke, thus; freeing the valve for movement in direction of the second valve seat.

When installed in a system in the manner indicated previously, the air charger assembly will function to fulfill the objects of present invention. So long as the systern is operating normally, that is with the liquid level within the intermediat range of levels indicated, the valve will be held in its open position with respect to-both valve seats, whereby full flow of liquid. will be permitted in either direction "dependent upon the. operating conditions existing in the system, but no. air will be introduced into the pressure tank: Y

"However, should the air cushion in the tank become Partially depleted, resulting in a rise of the liquid level in the tank to a point above the intermediate range of 1evels, the additional rise of the float will free the valve for -movement against the first valve seat, leaving only the aspirator exposed; for flow of liquid. Under these conditions, air will be drawn in through the aspiratorand discharged into the pressure tank to build up. the air cushion to normal.

On theother'hand; should thedrain on the system be such as to cause the liquid level to drop to a point below the intermediate range of levels the additional drop in the position of the float will serve to lift the valve stem and permit seating of the valve against the second valve seat by pressure of water in the tank, to thereby block the flow passage and prevent loss of the air cushion from the pressure tank.

When the service drain on the system slacks off, the resulting build up of pressure on the pump side of the valve will force the valve away from its seat on the second valve seat until the latch pin strikes the second yoke, which will hold the valve in its open position with respect to both valve seats and thus permit full flow into the pressure nk until h ai h o pre ure r a hes th cut off value of the pressure switch. When this occurs, the latch pin will have dropped to a position between both yokes and the valve will then be precluded from seating against either valve seat until the float again reaches a position either above the intermediate range of levels or a position below such range.

To accommodate the pressure switch in a system ernploying .the present invention, I prefer to expose such switch to the pressure conditions in the pressure tank by mounting the switch on the housing of the air charger assembly, and for this purpose, I provide a boss 55 having a threaded passage 57 :therethrough leading to the flow passage through the housing. This will serve to shorten connections and in many instances might reduce the number of openings required in the pressure tank itse f.

' I twfll be app c he fo e oing, tha y in ntion fulfillsall the objects attributed thereto, and while I have illustrated and described the same in its preferred form, the invention as thus disclosed, is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the fundamental principles involved. I, accordingly, do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details otthe preferred form, except as may be necessitated by the appe d d l im I claim:

1 An air charger assembly for a pressure tank having a bung opening for connection to a pump unit, said assembly comprising an air charger assembly housing having open ends with one end adapted for mounting to sueh tank at the bung opening therein and its other end adap ed f o p to such Pump unit, n spirat r'in said housing in the flow path of liquid therethrough, means responsive to a predominance of flow pressure thr u h a d us n t dir n vof h nkwhen connected thereto and when the liquid level in such tank is above a predetermined operating range, for closing said flow path with the exclusion of said aspirator, said means including a valve seat bounding said flow path with the exclusion of said aspirator, and a valve between said valveseat and the end of said housing to which such pump unit would be coupled, means responsive to a'predominance of flow. pressure through said housing in the reverse direction when connected to such tank and when the liquid level in such tank drops below such operating range, for closing the entire flow path through said housing, and means for restraining both said pressure. respon sive means from functioning when said housing is con,- lfiFIQl o u tan a v whi qu d e e n such ank s W h he range f pe a ve sa restraining means including latching means in said housing adapted to be unlatched in one direction to free one of said, pressure responsive means. for closure, andpin another direction to free the other of said pressure responsive means for su and. a float coupled to said m ans; to control said latching means in accordance. with such liquid levels.

' 2. An air charger assembly fora pressure tank having a bung opening for connection to a pump. unig said sembly comprising an air charger assembly hpusinghaving open ends with one end adapted'for mountingto such tank at the bung opening therein and its otheren'd;

adapted for coupling to such pump unit, an'=a'spirator'in said housing in the flow path of liquid therethrough,

means responsive'to a predominance of flow'pressure' said flow path with the exclusion of said aspirator, means: responsive to a predominance of flow pressure through said housing in the reverse direction'when connected to such tank and when the liquid level in such tank drops below such operating range, for closing the entire flow path through said housing, said means including a valve, and an associated valve seat bounding said flow path at the end of said housing to which such pump unitwould be coupled, and means for restraining both said pressure responsive means from functioning when said housing is connected to such tank and while the liquid level in such tank is within the range of operating levels.

3. An air charger assembly for a pressure tank'having a bung opening for connection to a pump unit, said assembly comprising an air charger assembly housing having open ends with one end adapted for mounting to such tank at the bung opening therein and its other end adapted for coupling to such pump unit, an aspirator in' said housing in the flow path of liquid therethrough, means responsive to a predominance of flow pressure through said housing in the direction of such tank when connected thereto and when the liquid level in such tank is above a predetermined operating range, for closing said, flow path with the exclusion of said aspirator, said means including a valve seat bounding said flow path with the exclusion of said aspirator, and a valve between said valve seat and the end of said housing to which such pump unit would be coupled, means responsive to a predominance of flow pressure through said housing in the reverse direction when connected to such tank and when the liquid level in such tank drops below such operating range, for closing the entire flow path through said housing, said means including said valve, and a valve seat bounding that end to which such pump unit would be coupled, and means for restraining both said pressure responsive means from functioning when said housing is connected to such tank and while the liquid level in such tank is within the range of operating levels.

4. An air charger assembly for a pressure tank having a bung opening, comprising an air charger assembly housing having open ends with one end adapted for mounting to such tank at the bung opening therein, an aspirator in said housing in a portion of the flow path of liquid therethrough, valve means in said housing substantially blocking the remainder of said flow path in a closed position of said valve means, a second valve means adapted to block the entire flow passage through said housing, said second valve means including a valve seat bounding the other end of said housing interiorly thereof, means responsive to liquid level conditions in such a tank for holding both said valve means open within an intermediate range of levels of liquid in such tank and permitting the closing of one or the other of said valve means when the liquid level in such tank is respectively above or below said intermediate range of levels, said liquid level responsive means including latch means in said housing and a float external to said housing and coupled to said latch means.

5. An air charger assembly for a pressure tank having a bung opening, comprising an air charger assembly housing having open ends with one end adapted for mounting to such tank at the bung opening therein, an aspirator in said housing in a portion of the flow path of liquid therethrough, valve means in said housing substantially blocking the remainder of said flow path in a closed position of said valve means, said valve means including a first valve seat bounding the remainder of said flow path, and a valve between said valve seat and the other end of said housing, valve means adapted to block the entire flow passage through said housing, said valve means including a valve, and a second valve seat bounding the other end of said housing interiorly thereof, and means responsive to liquid level conditions in such a tank for holding both said valve means open within an intermediate range of levels of liquid in such tank and permitting the closing of one or the other of said valve means when the liquid level in such tank is re spectively above or below said intermediate range of levels.

6. An air charger assembly fora pressure tank having.

a bung opening, comprising an air charger assembly housing having open ends, an aspirator in said housing in a portion of the flow path of liquid therethrough, valve means in said housing substantially blocking the remainder of said flow path in a closed position of said valve means, said valve means including a first valve seat bounding the'remainder of said flow path, a valve between said valve seat and one end of said housing, and a valve guide extending from said valve into said flow path, valve means adapted to block the entire flow passage through said housing, said valve means including said aforemen-i tioned valve, a second valve seat bounding the said one end of said housing interiorly thereof, means responsive to'level of a liquid for latching said valve in open position with respect. to each of said valve seats within an intermediate range of levels of said liquid and unlatchin'g said valve for. movement under liquid pressure toward either said first valve seat or said second valve seat when the liquid level is respectively above or below said intermediate range of levels, said means including a stop extending upwardly from the floor of said housing, a second stop, said second stop extending downwardly from the roof of said housing at a location between said first stop and the other end of said housing, a valve stem pivotally secured to said valve and extending toward the said other end of said housing, a latch element extending from said stem at a point intermediate said stops when said valve is in its open position with respect to both said valve seats, said valve stem when under gravitational force only, being capable of dropping sufliciently to permit said latch element to clear the lower end of said second stop, said liquid level responsive means comprising a float arm hingedly secured to the said other end of said housing and carrying at its free end, a float, and a lift lever connecting with said float arm and extending beneath said valve stem, said lifting lever having a lifting range suflicient to carry said latch element above the upper end of said first stop when said float drops below such intermediate range of levels.

7. An air charger assembly for a pressure tank having a hung opening, comprising an air charger assembly housing having open ends, an aspirator in said housing in a portion of the flow path of liquid therethrough, valve means in said housing substantially blocking the remainder of said flow path in a closed position of said valve means, said valve means including a first valve seat bounding the remainder of said flow path, a valve between said valve seat and one end of said housing, and a valve guide extending from said valve into said flow path, valve means adapted to block the entire flow passage through said housing, said valve means including said aforementioned valve, a second valve seat bounding the said one end of said housing interiorly thereof and in alignment with said valve, and a valve guide extending from said valve into the opening at that end of said housing, means responsive to level of a liquid for latching said valve in open position with respect to each of said valve seats within an intermediate range of levels of s aid liquid and unlatching said valve for movement under liquid pressure toward either said first valve seat or said second valve seat when the liquid level is respectively Z abpveor below said intermediate range oflevels, said m r e ncl lillg. a yoke xt nding pw rdly,- fromfloor i idhous g atse nd'yoke, a ds ccond yoke extending downwardly. from a the roof 0t said I housing in line with saidfirst yoke, but ,a t:,a locationhetween-said first, yoke andihe other end of saidhousing valve. stem -pivotally secured to saidvalve and extending toward. the saidother endofsaid housing in the medianplane. of said yokes, a latch pin extending laterally from. said stern at a point intermediatesaid yokes when said valve. isin its, open; position,- with respect to bothvsaid valve seats, said valve stem under gravitational force only, being capable of droppinginto said first yoke with said latch pin below thelowen endof said second .yoke, said. level responsive means comprising afloat arm:

iq 'd. hingedly secured, to the .saidother end'of'said housing anclcarrying at itjs fr ee end a float, and. a.lift, lever onnect n t said, float. at its hing d end. and

extending beneath saidyvalve stern, said, lifting lever a bung opening for connection toga pump unit, said assembly comprising an air, charger assembly housing having open ends, with one endadap tedr for mounting to such tank at the bung openingtherein and its .other end adapted for coupling togsuch pump unit, an aspirator iIljSllQh housing in the flowpath of liquid therethrough,

r h iQl g n a l ous ngh n th v irectional? such tank-when.

connected thereto andiwhen; the liquid level in such; tank is aboveaapredeterminedioperating. range, for closing. said. flown pathtwith the.- exclusion: of said; aspiraton; saidmeans-ineludinga;valve;seat bounding said flow: palhi with. the]. exclusion oft said aspirator, a, valve. slidably;

disposed. in, said,,housing.; between said; valve scatand; thetend ofisaidlhousinggtov-whichsuch pump unit WOllldi l:z.e;c;c;rupl ed aivalve stern pivotally securedto Isaid slidable; valve and. extending. toward the tank mounting, end; of: said: housing meansiresponsive; to, level& of a liquid for: latching said valve in, open position with respectgto, its, valve seat withinfaniintermediaterange of levels of said, liquid, and unlatchingsaid; valve for movement; under; liquid pressure, toward..said;seat when, the liquid level; is,abovesaiddntermediate range of levels, said; latching: means including a, stop locatedtin the upper portion ofi said housing and againstwhich said valve stem; may; abut when saidwalve occupies; its open position,,a. float; arm, a float at oneend, of said arm, means hingedly; securing said float: arm at its other end to said; housing with-saidifioat external of said housing,,a lift lever; con-v. necting with the. hinged iendv ofsaid float arm and extend-,1 ing into. lifting engagement: with said valve stem, said; lift lever having alift'range-suflicient to raise said ,valve; stem to: at position indinewith. said step when said float; drops below such intermediate; range, of levels.

References, Cited :in :the tile of this a patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Pennetal. May 18,1943; 

